Thank you for your interest in the LASF Strategic Planning Initiative  

Key Points :

Goal of strategic planning: Our goal is to ensure that LASF continues to support Lafayette public schools in the ways most valued by the community. Please check back for updates.

Milestones:

• Spring and September 2008:  Internal and external environment assessment,
• November – December 2008:  Conduct market research,
• Early Winter 2009:  Prepare and analyze market research results,
• Winter 2009:  Evaluate/ and potentially modify mission and vision; develop strategy tools.
• Winter/Early Spring 2009:  Develop strategic plan,
• Spring 2009: General Board vote on strategic plan,
• Spring 2009: Communicate strategic plan

Participants:

• Facilitator
• LASF Strategic Planning Subcommittee
• LASF General Board
• Key Stakeholders, including: 
• Parents;
• Teachers, school and district administrators, Lafayette School District Governing Board members; Acalanes Union High School District Governing Board members;
• Community leaders, including past LASF leadership, Lafayette Chamber of Commerce members, local business owners and managers and local community, education and youth foundation board members

Cost:  Budgeted cost is $15,000. 

FAQs

1. What is the LASF Strategic Planning project?

LASF is undergoing a process of dialog, analysis and envisioning with the goal of charting its course for the future. We are evaluating our strengths, challenges and opportunities; engaging our key stakeholders in a discussion of possibilities; and setting measurable goals and objectives for achieving our desired outcomes. We are reconsidering our vision and mission and developing an actionable, living plan. Our strategic planning effort was launched in September 2008 and should deliver an implementation plan in early Spring 2009, when we begin our annual budgeting process. 

2. What is the rationale for this project?

After 28 years of growth and evolution, LASF has developed from a small grass roots organization focused on supplementing arts and science curriculum to a large and diverse team of volunteers and a small paid staff that provides a much broader range of subject matter and education support and raises significantly greater funds.  The expectations and challenges for our children have evolved, our community has grown, and our broader operating environment has become increasingly complex.   We are undertaking a strategic planning process to ensure that we continue to support Lafayette public schools in the ways most valued by the community.

3. What kind of process are you following?

We are undertaking an open-ended, two-part process that will involve 1) reviewing and potentially revising our vision and mission based on self-evaluation and input from the Lafayette community;  and 2) defining a strategic plan that supports our resulting vision and mission. While there are many approaches to strategic planning, we are generally following the SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results) model; this approach focuses on emphasizing our positive strengths, opportunities and aspirations while working closely with our key stakeholder to define and build an organization of shared vision.  The plan is also dynamic, involving continuous monitoring and realignment with a changing world.

4 .What is the time-frame?

Our process kicked off in late September 2008 and is targeted to conclude in early Spring 2009 in time concert with the annual budgeting process. 

5. What will this project cost and how will it be funded?

LASF budgeted up to $15,000 to cover costs associated with facilitating the strategic planning process and performing associated market research.  We are hoping to find donors to underwrite some or all of this cost.  That being said, we believe strongly in the value of the project--we have earmarked the funds in our budget and will proceed with the project regardless of our ability to find underwriting.

6. What is LASF’s progress to date?

• Initiated internal review:  Last Spring we began our internal review process with a series of “change readiness” meetings in which General Board members analyzed and discussed key aspects of LASF’s services, operating environment and organizational strengths and weaknesses.  In September we continued this process by delineating who, what and where LASF is as an organization today from an internal perspective. This current view of the organization will be a baseline for comparing different visions of an LASF of the future.

• Conducted industry research:  Over the summer of 2008 we researched strategic planning efforts and organizational characteristics of other education foundations in California.  We also interviewed many professionals with strategic planning expertise to better define our needs.

• Hired facilitator:  Over the summer of 2008 we conducted an extensive search and evaluated an outstanding pool of strategic planning facilitators.  We are tremendously pleased to have engaged Oscar Wolters-Duran, a consultant respected for his listening skills, ability to bring a group to consensus and his work with not-for-profits.  

• Conducted market research:    We conducted market research to better understand the viewpoints of the people and organizations that we serve, including parents, school and district administrators, teachers, school district Governing Board members, business leaders and other community leaders.

• In the first stage of our research we conducted focus groups to explore such topics as “What kinds of educational enrichment are most valuable for the future?” and “What are the most important ways that LASF can support public education?” 

• In the second stage, we conducted an online survey that was open to the entire Lafayette community.  From this research we gained insights and objective information regarding what needs LASF should strive to meet in its role as Lafayette’s education foundation.

 

• Evaluated mission and scope, developed strategy tools, and defined guiding principles in key ares of change: After gaining an understanding of our community’s needs and desires for the future, LASF held an all day strategy session. 

• The first goal was to evaluate our current mission and scope of funding to determine whether they still aptly serve the organization;
• The second goal was to develop a set of strategy tools to guide the organization in evaluating new opportunities in future;
• The third goal was to define positive guiding statements in three areas that generated the most interest as areas of potential change:  Scope of Funding, Funding Process and Fundraising.

• Convened three working groups:  Scope of Funding, Funding Process and Fundraising.  Began developing strategies and action plans

• Published new scope statement:  The Scope of Funding work group published a new Scope statement to guide funding decisions.  View the scope statement at www.lasf.org/scope.

7.  What are the next steps?

• Complete implementation plan:   All three working groups will complete their implemenation plans, including measurable goals, strategies and actions for implementing our vision for the organization,

• General Board vote on strategic plan:  The board will vote on the completed strategic plan by the end of May 2009. 

8.  How can I get involved?

• November focus groups:  In November, focus groups were held with key stakeholders across the Lafayette public education community. 
• December online survey:  In December we conducted an online survey, which was open to the entire Lafayette community. Its results will guide our strategic planning.
• Winter implementation plan:  In Winter 2009 we worked on our implementation plan.  Email us at LASFstratplan@gmail.com.with your contact information, specifying your interest in helping with implementation planning.  You can also call us at 925-299-1644.

• Contact LASF anytime:  At any point you are encouraged to email your concerns and ideas to LASF at LASFstratplan@gmail.com.  You can also call us at 925-299-1644.

Strategic Planning Contact:  Please send questions or comments regarding LASF strategic planning to Anne Granlund at LASFstratplan@gmail.com

Communications Contact:  Please send questions or comments regarding this document to Barbara Serwin at serwinfamily@hotmail.com.